Scene & Snapped: This Week In Parties…

University of Louisville students filled the gymnasium at The Salvation Army’s Male Campus on Jan. 26, for a special outreach event aimed at raising supplies and awareness for the River City’s homeless population.

Students who participated were members of the Greek community and volunteers for a homeless advocacy group called Wrap-Up America, whose goal is to raise awareness and donate blankets they’ve collected throughout the year. The group has collected more than 2,000 blankets for the homeless population in past events.

A highlight of the evening’s festivities was an elaborate blanket fort building contest.

Louisville’s first annual Gravy Cup – a biscuit and gravy competition hosted by Zach Fry – was held Jan. 27 at the Monkey Wrench.

Those willing to put their recipes to the test entered their gravy dishes into the categories of traditional, non-traditional and vegetarian, also competing for the title of Best Homemade Biscuit and Best Overall.

The competition was judged by Christopher Seckman, North End Cafe owner and chef; Summer Auerbach, CEO of Rainbow Blossom Foods Inc.; Ashley Dunn Shadburne, Traveling Tuesday Supper club founder and local food blogger; Bart Whitehouse, Louisville food critic and world traveler; and Dennie Humphrey, owner of the Monkey Wrench.

Pirates and Parrot Heads stole the show at the eighth annual Swashbucklers Ball, which took place Jan. 19 at The Seelbach Hotel.

Karen Roby, former news anchor at WLKY-TV, emceed the lively party, which included Caribbean cuisine, live music, dancing and both silent and live auctions. Prizes were given out for the best pirate and Jimmy Buffett-themed costumes.

The ENID Group, 15 women artists inspired by Louisville sculptor Enid Yandell (1870 – 1934), held a reception to open an exhibit of their work on Jan. 11 at the Cressman Center. The exhibit runs through Feb. 9.With The Voice-Tribune’s Veteran Photographer JOHN HARRALSONClick here to see the full gallery.

The Kentucky Derby Festival unveiled its 2013 Official Poster and Merchandise line Jan. 23 at the 33rd annual Poster Premiere at The Henry Clay building. Several hundred guests attended the festival’s first official event of the New Year.

The 2013 a Poster was created by local artist Lonnie Walker, an award-winning illustrator and graphic artist. Walker’s 2013 artwork features vibrant colors in a starry night sky, showcasing the festival’s symbolic Pegasus in flight.

The Poster Premiere featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary gift for the first 1,000 guests. There was a silent auction of framed 2013 Official Posters, as well as a silent auction of several gift and VIP packages.

For the seventh year in a row, the awards ceremony for the festival’s Student Art Contest was held in conjunction with the Poster Premiere, and students with winning entries in the Student Art Contest had the opportunity to attend the event.

Festivities at the black-tie soiree included cocktails, dinner, dancing, raffles, a photo booth and both silent and live auctions. Live music by long-time Louisville favorite Thumper and the Plaid Rabbits, the Bourbon Street Lounge After Party and gaming tables made this year’s event even more spectacular than the last.